February Employee Spotlight
Lisa Johnson Administrative Assistant
For Lisa, professional fulfillment comes from the success of the collective. While her primary focus is on the essential finance and office operations, she views her role through the lens of partnership.
"My projects mostly depend on what the agents are doing," Lisa says. "If the agent is successful, I have had a hand in that success."
Team-first mentality is the success of the group over individual accomplishments. She finds her daily rhythm in tackling the "to-do" list and jumping in wherever a colleague might need a hand. For her, the best part of the day is that feeling of completion and the collaborative spirit of moving forward together.
Inspired by Strength
When asked about her inspiration, Lisa points to her mother—a woman who influences strength found in calmness, thoughtful presence, intentional actions, powerful wisdom, and resilience. It’s clear that Lisa carries some of these "thoughtful presences" into the workspace.
Life Beyond the Desk
If there is one thing you should know about Lisa, it’s that she is happiest where the land meets the water. Whether it’s a pond, river, lake, or the ocean, if it splashes, she loves it!
- Hidden Talents: Don't let her demeanor fool you—Lisa can still wakeboard and water ski like a champ!
- Family First: Outside of work, you’ll find her soaking up quality time at the lake with her family and grandchildren.
- Dream Destination: If she could hop on a plane tomorrow, she’d be heading straight back to the shores of Hawaii.
- The Ultimate Food: Nothing beats a good classic cheeseburger.
Easy Oatmeal
For an on-the-go version, cook oats directly in a microwave-safe Tupperware container or glass mason jar. Keep small plastic zip bags mixed with chopped dried fruit, brown sugar, nuts, and spices to grab on the way out the door. Ingredients: 1 cup old-fashioned oats 2 cups water (or milk) Directions: 1. In a microwave-safe bowl, add oats and water (or milk). Stir together. 2. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, or until the oatmeal begins to thicken. If the oatmeal is about to boil over, it’s done! 3. Carefully remove the bowl from the microwave (the bowl may be hot). 4. Add any additional toppings (see below). Sweeteners: (pick one and add 1 or 2 tablespoons to your oatmeal) brown sugar maple syrup molasses fruit jams or jellies honey chocolate syrup chocolate chips Fruits: fresh or frozen berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc.) chopped fresh apples applesauce sliced bananas dried fruits (raisins, apricots, apples, figs, etc.) canned peaches, chopped Protein and Crunch: 1 tablespoon peanut butter small handful chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts) granola cereal vanilla yogurt Create different toppings combinations for fun and delicious breakfasts! Make up fun names for your different recipes to get kids excited.
Are You Heart Smart?
What to Know for a Healthier Heart
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. One in five deaths is due to heart disease, even though it is largely preventable. Keeping your heart healthy starts with living a heart-healthy lifestyle. But first, you need to get smart about your heart. Knowing what causes heart disease, what puts you at risk for it, and how you can reduce those risks can help you make informed decisions to protect your heart and keep it strong.
Want to test your knowledge? Take this short Heart Smart Quiz:
Heart Smart Quiz 1. True or False? High blood pressure is also known as hypertension and occurs when your blood pressure is consistently 130/80 mm Hg or higher. 2. True or False? Your body mass index, or BMI, shows if your weight is in a healthy range for your height and is one measure of your future risk for heart disease. 3. True or False? Cholesterol helps make hormones, vitamin D, and substances to help you digest foods. Your body needs it for good health, but in the right amounts. 4. True or False? Eating lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, using fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and limiting foods high in saturated fat or sugar-sweetened beverages are all part of a heart-healthy diet. 5. True or False? Not getting enough sleep or getting poor quality sleep on a regular basis increases the risk of having high blood pressure, heart disease, and other medical conditions. 6. True or False? To strengthen their heart, adults should aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as brisk walking each week.
How did you do? Knowing your own risk factors for heart disease can help guide your lifestyle choices, so talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you’re clear. Just as important: know your numbers. Your weight, waist size, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels all affect your heart. If they aren’t where they should be, make a pledge to begin improving them. Adding more physical activity to your day, eating a heart-healthy diet, managing stress, getting enough quality sleep, and not smoking can put you on the path to better heart health. Learn more about heart disease prevention from The Heart Truth® at www.hearttruth.gov and download the Heart Smart Basics fact sheet to improve your knowledge about heart health.
4-H Online
Have you registered your child or grandchild in 4-H Online for 2026? If not, now is the time! All youth must be registered for this calendar year before they can attend 4-H club meetings, participate in enrichment programs, register for Summer Fun, or attend 4-H camp. Don’t miss out on the fun! The enrollment process should take less than 20 minutes to complete. If you have questions, feel free to contact Amanda Gann at (336)401-8025 or agann@ncsu.edu.
Snow Days
Are you looking for an easy snow day activity to entertain the kids? Grab some snow and turn it into an erupting snow volcano! This awesome winter science experiment is perfect for kids of all ages, and if you do it outside, there is less mess to clean up! If your kids are having a snow day and you’re in need of a quick activity idea to keep them entertained, consider giving this one a try! Materials: · Fresh snow · Small container or bowl · Baking soda · Red and yellow food coloring · Dish soap (optional, but recommended) · White vinegar 1. Create Mound of Snow Use your hands to create a mound of packed snow. This will become the base of your volcano. 2. Insert Container Grab a small bowl or container and gently press it into the snow. Keep pressing down until the edges of the container are level with the top of the snow mound. If needed, reshape the snow with your hands until it looks like a mountain again. 3. Add Baking Soda Pour a bit of baking soda into the container. You don’t need much—a couple teaspoons will do. There’s no point adding more than that, because the baking soda at the bottom will simply become trapped underneath when the vinegar is added. And because it won’t come into contact with the vinegar, it won’t start fizzing. If you want to create a stronger chemical reaction, add more vinegar instead of adding more baking soda. 4. Add Food Coloring Add a few drops of red and yellow food coloring to the baking soda. The color won’t look as bright when the volcano eruption is happening, so make sure you add extra coloring if you want the explosion to look nice and vibrant. 5. Add Dish Soap (Optional) If you’ve decided to use dish soap, now is a good time to add it. Once again, you don’t need much—a few drops or a small squirt should suffice. This helps the chemical reaction to last longer! 6. Add Vinegar When all the previous steps have been completed, quickly pour some vinegar into the container (we used about ½ cup) and watch the reaction take place! The food coloring will turn the vinegar a reddish orange color as it bubbles and spills over onto the snow like a lava. Since this experiment uses inexpensive common household materials, the kids can do it more than once! They may even want to try different colors of food coloring for a different effect!
The Economics of On-Farm Grain Storage in North Carolina
Staff members within the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at North Carolina State University recently completed a study to determine if on-farm grain storage is beneficial for North Carolina farmers. To truly determine the long-term profitability of on-farm grain storage within the state they developed a simulation model grounded in real-world farm conditions, where the data originated from various farm interviews conducted across different agricultural production regions around the state. These interviews allowed the staff members to collect detailed information on grain storage facility design, overall investment costs, overall operating expenses, harvest strategies, and local grain delivery logistics. Using this input, the staff members constructed three grain storage technology levels to be used within this study. In this study, a basic grain storage facility is defined as a facility including grain bins with essential systems such as aeration fans, in-bin sweeps, and loading augers or conveyors. An intermediate grain storage facility was defined as a facility building off of a basic facility in addition to having equipment such as low-capacity dryers, wet tanks, and elevator systems. Plus, an advanced grain storage facility was defined as a facility building off of a basic and intermediate facility, including equipment such as high-capacity grain dryers, wet tanks, dump pits, grain elevators, in-bin sensors, and also loadout tanks. The staff members then utilized a simulation model consisting of per-bushel net present value trajectories for on-farm grain storage investments over a 45-year period, which was segmented by crop, location, and also the storage technology level. As a result of this study, there were two key highlights concerning the profitability of on-farm grain storage for corn and soybeans within North Carolina. The first highlight determines that soybean storage is a more consistently profitable long-term investment across all technology systems, where the net present values are statistically above the breakeven point within 20 years, ultimately indicating a high likelihood of profitability and relatively low financial risk. The second highlight determines that corn storage profitability is more sensitive to technology system choice, overall location within North Carolina, and market volatility. For basic grain facility systems the net present value remains positive and statistically above the breakeven point by year 45, where a basic grain facility shows a lesser significant risk due to its lower investment and operating costs, despite only having slight improved harvest efficiency. In contrast, with intermediate and advanced grain facilities showing positive net present values on average, there is also an associated negative value by year 45, indicating they are not statistically different from an overall negative return on investment. Ultimately, these findings reinforce that profitability depends not just on the decision to store grain but also highlight the importance of tailoring grain storage investments to crop type, choice of technological systems, and regional market conditions. Overall, this study provides the most detailed, regionally specific assessment to date on the long-run profitability of on-farm grain storage in North Carolina. By combining expert grower input, detailed cost modeling, and over two decades of various market data, an evaluation could be completed on storage investments across a broad set of technologies, locations, and capacities. The results show that on-farm grain storage can be profitable and a risk-reducing strategy specifically for soybeans in higher-capacity and more technologically advanced systems. However, profitability is not always guaranteed, as returns vary significantly by crop, location, and grain storage facility design. Plus, corn storage may carry higher financial risk under certain specific conditions. These findings truly underscore the importance of considering site-specific factors, such as local market access, harvest logistics, and weather risks when ultimately making long term investment decisions. Articled summarized from NC State Economist from North Carolina State University
Pruning Calendar
This is a great time of year to prune many landscape plants and fruit trees. Training and Pruning Fruit Trees in North Carolina is referenced below as a helpful online resource.
Quarantine Area for Imported Fire Ant Expands
To all of Davie, Forsyth and Iredell counties by Bill Foote, NCDA&CS
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has expanded a state quarantine for the imported fire ant (IFA) to include all of Davie, Forsyth, and Iredell counties effective Jan. 1, 2026. With the expansion, the quarantine now includes portions or entire areas of 81 counties in North Carolina. The quarantine continues efforts to monitor the spread of this pest and address mitigation or control measures. Under quarantine rules, residents and business owners in these counties will need to obtain a permit before moving plants, sod and related equipment into or through non-infested areas. The North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association and nurseries in the newly quarantined counties were notified of the planned quarantine update. Certificates can be obtained from a local plant protection specialist or by contacting the Plant Protection Section at 800-206-9333 or 919-707-3730. Items requiring a permit include nursery stock, sod, soil, hay and straw, logs or pulpwood with soil, and soil-moving equipment, including construction equipment. The movement of any other products, items, or infested materials that present a risk of spread from established IFA areas to non-infested areas is also prohibited. “Failure to obtain the needed inspections and certifications may result in the issuance of a stop-sale notice and rejection or destruction of the regulated article,” said Dr. Bill Foote, director of the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division. “Fire ants can be harmful to humans and livestock. It is critical we continue proactive efforts to slow down fire ant movement into non-infested areas of the state.” The imported fire ant was first identified in Brunswick County in 1957. As it spread and became established, it was recognized as an aggressive pest of farmlands, pastures, residential areas, and wildlife, Foote said. The ant is a nuisance and a health concern to humans, livestock, and wildlife due to its painful sting. For a map of the quarantine area and to learn more about the NCDA&CS Imported Fire Ant program, referenced below.
Local Farmer Finalist for 2026 National Outstanding Young Farmer of America Award
Outstanding Farmers of America (OFA) announced that Preston and Emily Cave of Dobson, North Carolina, have been named finalists for the 2026 National Outstanding Young Farmer of America (NOYF) Award. The finalists were notified in December and invited to attend the 2026 Outstanding Farmers of America Convention, scheduled for Feb. 4–7 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. During the convention, finalists will participate in in-person interviews to determine four honorees who will be named the National Outstanding Young Farmers of the Year for 2026. Winners will be announced during the final banquet on Saturday, Feb. 7.
ServSafe Certification Course
Surry County Environmental Health and NC Cooperative Extension began the year with a successful ServSafe Food Manager Certification course! Participants increased their knowledge of food safety through a variety of educational experiences, activities, lectures, and games. Good luck to each on a passing test grade!
Shiitake Mushrooms Workshop for Home Gardeners
NC Cooperative Extension, Surry Center, has partnered with North Surry High School FFA to host a shiitake mushroom workshop on Tuesday, February 3, at 4:00 pm. The workshop will be held at the high school (2440 W. Pine Street, Mount Airy) in the agriculture building at the back of the school grounds. If you are interested in how to grow shiitake mushrooms, this workshop is for you! Join us to learn about mushroom production and how to inoculate logs with mushroom spawn. The workshop will cover the basics. Participants will inoculate two logs in class to take home! All workshop materials will be provided. The cost is $25. Registration is required. Call NC Cooperative Extension, Surry Center at 336.401.8025 to register.
Beekeeping School
NCFGC 2026 Winter Conference
Program Dates and Time
February Horticulture Workshop Schedules
Reschedules Due to Inclement Weather
Perpetual Propagation Workshop originally scheduled for January 29 has been rescheduled to February 12 at 2:00 pm at the Mount Airy Public Library (336-789-5108)
Pressed Flowers Workshop
Join us for a hands-on workshop and learn how to press flowers and greenery for drying. Participants will decorate an air-dry clay ornament with pressed flowers. All supplies will be provided – just bring yourself and be prepared to have fun!
Registration is required for all workshops. To register, please call the location where you'd like to attend.
February 5, 2026 - 2:00 pm Mount Airy Senior Center (336-415-4225)
February 19, 2026 - 2:00 pm Mount Airy Public Library (336-789-5108)
February 26, 2026 - 1:00 pm Pilot Mountain Senior Center (336-368-3803)
Cold Hardy Vegetables Workshop
“Baby, it’s cold outside!” Vegetables are never better than homegrown. Learn how to grow your own veggies in a bowl indoors in this FREE “Cold Hardy Vegetables” workshop. **Bring a 6-inch (minimum) deep bowl with drainage holes.
February 10, 2026 - 1:00 pm at the Beulah Community Center
February 13, 2026 - 10:30 am at the Charles H Stone Memorial Library, Pilot Mountain
EMGV 2026 Plant Sale
The 2026 Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers of Surry County’s Plant sale is underway. Orders must be placed and payment made by the new extended deadline date of February 13, 2026 at the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Surry County Center office at 915 E. Atkins Street, Dobson, NC or with a Master Gardener. All plants are bare root, and trees are 2-year trees. Payment is not refundable, and the plants are “as is”. Checks should be made payable to the CES Fund. All proceeds from this sale will be used to fund EMGV programs and scholarships. If you have questions about the sale, please feel free to call our office at 336-401-8025.
4-H Online 2.0
Have you registered in 4-H Online? If not, now is the time! All youth must be registered for this calendar year before they can attend club meetings, participate in enrichment programs, register for Summer Fun, or attend 4-H camp. Don’t miss out on the fun! The enrollment process should take less than 15 minutes to complete. If you have questions, feel free to contact Amanda Gann at (336) 401-8025 or agann@ncsu.edu.
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